Section-locking means for foldable bed-frames.



P. J. DE DOES.

SECTION LOCKING MEANS FOR FOLDABLE BED FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, I915.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTUR filmy 1.

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SECTION LOCKING MEANS roa FOLDABLE BED FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27, 19L)- Patented Mar.13', 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTUR I Q M. 47M

PETER J. DE DOES, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOLEDO PARLORFURNITURE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SECTION-LOOKING MEANS FOR FOLDABLE BED-FRAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PETER J. DE Dons, acitizen of Holland, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas andState of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Section-LockingMeans for Foldable Bed- Frames; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to thecharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to sofa beds, and particularly to those of themultiple section folding-bed frame type.

The object of my invention is the provision, in a bed of the characterdescribed, of improved, simple and efficient means which isautomatically operable by a relative folding of certain of the bedsections to lock two sections in spaced folded relation, one over theother, and is operable by an unfolding of such sections to release thefolded-over bed sections for unfolding movements.

The invention is-fully described in the following specification, andwhile in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerousforms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sofa bed embodyingmy invention, with the bed frame in unfolded position, and with an endportion of the sofa frame broken away on the line av, m in Fig. 2. Fig.2 is a plan view of a side portion thereof, and Figs. 3, 4?, 5 and G areside views of the bed frame in different stages of a folding movementthereof, illustrating the actionof the section locking means embodyingthe invention.

The bed frame with which my invention is associated, comprises, in thepresent instance, the three major sections 1, 2 and 3, and the two minoror spacing sections 4 and 5, which latter foldably connect the adjacentends of the major sections 1, 2, and 2, 3, respectively. The severalsections of the bed frame are pivoted together in successive order toadapt the major sections to be folded one over another in spacedrelation with the minor sections serving as the spacing means therefor.As the construction support.

piece 12 enables them,

and manner of folding of bed frames of this character is well understoodin the art, a detailed description thereof will not be given.

The inner section 1 of the bed frame is mounted, in the presentinstance, for limited raising and lowering movements in a seat frame 6,which is rotatably mounted in a sofa or davenport frame 7, or othersuitable The means illustrated for movably connecting the bed frame tothe seat frame is described in detail in my former application, SerialNo. 39,316, filed July 12, 1915, and therefore need not be describedherein. It will be understood that the means shown in the drawings forsupporting the inner end portion of the bed frame is not material to,and forms no part of, the present invention, and may therefore bechanged as desired without affecting the operation and construction ofthe section locking means in which the present invention resides.

Legs 8 and 9 are foldably attached to the outer ends of the sections 2and 3, respectively, for supporting the outer end portion of the bedframe when inunfolded position, as is well understood in the art. Eachleg 8, 9 is connected adjacent to its pivoted end by a link 10, to a baror link member 11, which is pivoted at its opposite end to the adjacentend of the adjoining spacing sections 4, 5, respectively, in offsetrelation toits pivot, whereby a folding of the major section carryingthe leg with respect to the spacing section of the bed frame to whichits inner end is attached will communicate a longitudinal movement tothe respective links 10 and 11, and effect a folding of the associatedleg against the section by which it is carried, as specificallydescribedin my said former application, Serial No. 39,316.

The outer bed frame section 3 is provided at its outer end with afoot-piece 12, the legs 13 of which are preferably obtusely angled andpivoted at their free ends to the respective sides of section 3 slightlyto the rear of its outer end, as at 14. The obtuse formation of the legportions of the footwhen in set-up or operative position with respect tothe bed frame, to extend outward to the upper forward edge of the bedframe section 3, and then upward on a slight outward incline, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. A stop finger 15 is pivoted to each side of section-3slightly to the rear of the foot-piece pivot 1 1, as at 16, and isprovided in its outer end portion with a longitudinally extending slot17 into which projects a pin or stud TS that is carried by and projectsfrom the adjacent leg 13 of the foot-piece, in the present instance, atthe point of angle thereof. The manner of mounting the foot-piece 12 andstop fingers 15 on the frame section 3, and the pin and slot connectiontherebetween, is such that when the foot-piece is in the set-up orusable position shown in Fig. 1 the stop fingers will be held inforwardly reclining position, and when the footpiece is swung rearwardto its folded position relative to the section 3 the stop fingers willbe swung thereby to upright or substantially rightangle relation withrespect to said section, as shown in Figs. 3, 4;, 5 and G. The outer endof each stop finger 15 is preferably of concaved or notched form toadapt it, when the section 3 is folded over the section 2, as shown inFig. 3, to rest on a stop-pin or stud 19 provided in registeringposition on the respective side of the intermediate bed frame section 2.It is thus evident that the fingers 15 and the coacting stop pins orstuds 19 on the respective sides of the bed frame serve to limit thefolding movements of the free end of the outer bed frame section 3 withrespect to the intermediate bed frame section 2, and cooperate with theminor spacing bed frame section 5 to prop erly space the major sections2, 3, when in folded relation, as shown in Fig. 3.

The means employed for locking the sections 2, 3, in folded relation,consists in pivoting a catch finger 20 to one of the minor or spacingsections 4:, 5 (at in the present instance}, as at 21, and providing acatch stud 22 on the respective side of the bed frame section 3 adjacentto its outer end, whereby when the sections 2, 3, are held in foldedrelation, one over the other, and also in folded relation to the spacingsection fir, the catch finger 20 may be swung with respect to itscarrying section a to place a notch 23, provided in the free endthereof, in catch engagement with the stud 22, as shown in Fig. 5. Themeans employed, in the present instance, for causing the catch finger 20to have automatic catch engaging and releasing movements when the bedframe is folded and unfolded, respectively, comprises a link member 24:,which is pivoted at one end'to the inner end portion of the bed framesection 2, in offset relation to its adjacent pivot as at 25, and hasits other end pivoted to the inner end portion of the catch finger 20 intransversely ofi'set relation to its pivot, as at 26, whereby the catchfinger 20 and control link 24: are caused to substantiallylongitudinally aline with each other and with the bed frame sections 2,a

w ien said sections are in unfolded relation, as shown. in Fig. 3, andto cause the catch finger to be automatically swung into catchengagement with the stud 22 when said sections 2, l are relativelyfolded, as shown in Figs. 4, 5. With the present arrangement the catchfinger 20 begins to swing upward as soon as the folding of the section 2with respect to the section 1 is begun, and the swinging movement of thecatch finger and the section 2 are so relatively timed that the finger20 and catch stud 22 will each move into catch engagement with theother, when the section 2 is in substantially upright or right-angledposition with respect to the section 4, as shown in Fig. 5.

It evident that when. the catch memhers 20 and 22 are in engagement thebed frame section 3 will be locked against any movement with respect tothe sections 2 and 1-, and that said locking means will also serve tobrace the sections in their folded relations. It is also evident thatthe me1nhers 20 and 24 of the catch means, one of which means isprovided at each side of the bed frame, serve to reinforce the centralportion of the bed frame as they connect the bed frame sections 2 and 4,and are disposed in longitudinally alined bracing relation thereto whenthe bed frame is in unfolded position. It is preferable, but notnecessary, to mount the members 20 and'2i and the catch stud 22 onthe-outer sides of the respective side bars or portions of the bedframe, thereby leaving the space between the side bars of the bed framefree for holding the mattress and bed clothes.

It is evident that I have provided simple and efficient means which isautomatically operable by relative folding and unfolding movements ofthe bed frame sections to lock the two outer major sections 2, 3 infolded relation, and also to lock said sections in folded relation totheminor section 4:: that the locking means serve to relatively brace thebed frame sections 2, 3, 4c and 5 against relative movements when infolded relation, and that the catch fingers and their control link'sstand in reclining, unobstructing position when the bed frame is inunfolded or usable position, thus materially enhancing thepracticability and commercial value of bed frames of the characterdescribed.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable ofnumerous modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, asdefined in the claims.

:laving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,"

1. A plurality of foldably related major and minor bed frame sections,in combination with a catch member movably carried by a minor sectionand automatically movable into catch engagement With a part of a majorsection by a relative folding of the sections.

2. A plurality of foldably related major and minor bed frame sections,in combination With a catch member movably carried by a minor sectionand movable into catch engagement With a part of a major section whenthe sections are relatively folded, and means operable by relativefolding movements of said sections to control the movements of the catchmember.

3. In a device of the class described, an outer major section and aninner spacing section foldably connected together, a catch memberswingingly carried by the inner one of said sections, a catch partcarried by the outer of said sections, and meansoperable, upon arelative folding of said sections, to swing said member into catchengagement with said part.

4. In a device of the class described, a plurality of major bedframesections and spacing sections therefor, all foldably con nected, incombination With complementary fastening means, one carried by a majorsection and the other carried by a spacing section, and automaticallyoperable to engage and disengage upon folding and unfolding movements,respectively, of the sections.

5. In a device of the class described, two bed-frame sections foldablein substantially parallel relation one over the other, and an adjoiningsection foldably connected to one of said first sections, and meansoperable b folding movements of said sections to loci; the sections infolded relation and having complemental catch parts one carried by oneof said first sections and the other carried by said adjoining section.

6. In a device of the class described, a plurality of foldably relatedbed sections comprising two major sections foldable one over the otherand two spacing sections disposed at opposite ends of said majorsections when in folded position, in combination With means operable byfolding movements of said sections to lock the sections in foldedrelation and having complemental catch parts one carried by a majorsection and one by a minor section.

7. In a device of the class described, tWo major sections foldable oneover the other, a spacing section foldably attached to one of said majorsections and standing at an angle thereto when the major and spacingsections are in folded relation, and means operable by folding movementsof said sections to lock the sections in folded relation and havingcomplemental catch parts, one carried by one of said major sections andthe other carried by the spacing section.

8. In a device of the class described, tWo major bed frame sectionsfoldable one over said fastening means the other, a catch part carried bone of said sections, a spacing section fold. ly attached to one of saidsections, a catch finger pivotally carried by said spacing section, andmeans connecting one of said major sections and said finger and operableto move the finger into and out of engagement with said catch part Whenthe major sections have folding or unfolding movements respectivelyrelative to said spacing section.

9. In a device of the class described, a bedframe having at least threemajor sections and spacing sections foldably connecting the adjacentends of adjoining major sections, one major section being foldable overanother major section, and complemental fastening means having one partcarried by a major section and another part carried by a spacingsection, and means operable by relative movements of the spacing sectionand one of said major sections to control the engaging and releasingmovements of one of With respect to the other.

10. In a device of the class described, a plurality of foldablyconnected bed sections, some serving as major sections and some asspacing sections, means having complementary parts carried by tWo of themajor sections for limiting the relative folding move ments thereof, andmeans operable by relative folding movements of the bed sections to lockin folded relation the sections carrying said complementary means, saidlocking means having a catch part carried by one of said major sectionsand a catch part carried by one of said spacing sections.

11. A bed-frame having outer and intermediate foldably connected majorsections and a minor section foldably connected to the inner end of saidintermediate section, means for limiting the relative folding movementsof said major section, and catch means operable by relative folding andunfolding movements of said minor and major sections, when the latterare in folded relation, and having a catch part carried by the outer ofsaid major sections and a catch part carried by said minor section.

12. In a device of the class described, a plurality of sections foldablyconnected whereby When folded some are disposed in substantiallyparallel relation in one plane and others in substantially parallelrelation in a different plane, and complementary means operable byfolding movements of said sections to lock them in folded relation, saidcomplementary means being carried by different sections Which aredisposed in intersecting planes When in folded relation.

13. In a device of the class described, a bed frame comprising aplurality of major sections and a plurality of spacing sections allfoldably connected together, and means for limiting the folding of theouter section over an intermediate major section, in combination with acatch stud carried by the outer major section, and a catch fingerpivotally carried by one of said spacing sections and movable into andout of catch engagement with said stud when the outer and intermediateor sections are in folded relation and the intermediate section isfoldably moved with respect to the spacing section carrying the finger,and means connectingthe finger and one of said major sections forcontrolling the movements of the finger when the sections connected bysaid last means are relatively moved.

1%. In a device of the class described, two foldably connected major bedsections and a third section foldably connected to one of said majorsections, in combination with catch means having a stud part carried byone of said major sections and a movable catch member carried by saidthird section, said means being operable, when said ma or sections arein folded relation and have fold-' ing and unfolding movements withrespect to said third section, to move said catch parts into and out ofcatch engagement, respectively.

15. In a device of the class described, a plurality of foldablyconnected bed sections including an outer section, a second sectionfoldably connected to said outer section, and a third section foldablyconnected to said second section, a catch stud carried at the free endof said outer section, a catch finger Copies of this pivot-ally carriedby said third section, and a link pivotally connected at its ends tosaid catch finger and said second section respectively and operable byrelative folding and unfolding movements of said second and thirdsections to swing the catch finger into and out of engagement with saidcatch stud when the outer and second sections are in folded relation.

16. In a device of the class described, a plurality of bed-framesections including outer and inner major sections foldably connectedtogether, and a spacing section foldably connected to the inner end ofthe inner section, means having complementary stop parts carried by saidouter and inner major sections for spacing the outer end of said outersection with respect to the inner section when in folded relation, saidmeans having a part foldably carried by one of said sections, a catchstud carried at the free end of said outer section, and catch meanscarried by said spacing section for pivotal movements relative theretoand connected to said inner major section, said catch means beingoperable by relative folding movements of said inner and spacingsections to engage said catch stud and cooperate with said stop means torigidly hold said major sections in folded relation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

PETER J. on DOES.

patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents,

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